Parents tell of guilt over daughter killed by suspected drink driver

Like many parents of teenagers, Ann and Edward Cleverley provide a free taxi service at all hours of the day and night.

But when their 18-year- old daughter Eluned phoned for a lift from a party early on Saturday morning, they had to say no because they had both had a couple of glasses of wine.

So Eluned left the party on foot - and was killed by a suspected drink-driver, just 20 minutes after making the call to her parents.

Yesterday, they spoke of their sorrow at losing their 'beautiful,

talented daughter' and their torment over the tragedy in which they unwittingly played a part.

Eluned, an art student, went to the 18th birthday party in Wallasey, Merseyside, about seven miles from her home in Hoylake in Wirral.

Mrs Cleverley, 51, a systems analyst, said: 'She left the house at 4pm. I wasn't worried about her.

'She rang at 1.30am - she wanted a lift, but we had had a couple of glasses of wine at home and we didn't feel it was right for us to drive. We said, "No we can't come to get you tonight".

'She said she would go to a friend's house to order a taxi. She said, "I love you mum".'

Mr Cleverley, 58, who works for a food processing plant, added:

' Normally when she rings I have just got to sleep and when I have woken up properly I go to get her.

'We have been the most conscientious parents. We always would go and get her and run her friends home.

'On this one occasion, when we didn't go - this happens. It is just unbelievable.'

His wife added: 'I woke up at 3.30 and realised she wasn't home. I rang her mobile a number of times and was panicking. At 3.58 I sent her a text saying, "Sick with worry. Ring us immediately".

'I couldn't sleep. I came downstairs and was just sitting there when I saw a car coming, I thought, "It's her taxi!" - and of course it was the police. I said to the officer, "Is she alive?" and he said, "No. I have to tell you she is dead".'

After leaving the party, Eluned was hit by a parked unoccupied Ford Puma on a road in Wallasey. The car had been shunted by a white Mercedes Sprinter van driven by the suspected drinkdriver.

It is thought Eluned died instantly from massive injuries.

A friend with her, a 20-year-old man, suffered minor injuries and is recovering in hospital.

Eluned had just finished her A-levels at West Kirby Grammar School, in Wirral, and next month was to start an art and design course at West Cheshire College, Ellesmere Port.

Mrs Cleverley added yesterday: ' She was a lovely, lovely girl. Talented, beautiful, crazy and loveable. She was such a popular girl, with all her life ahead of her.

'She had such a wide circle of friends, a typical teenager. She was just so enjoying life.'

The couple have another daughter, Carys, 13, who is said to be devastated at the death of her elder sister. The family are originally from Dolgellau, North Wales.

Mr Cleverley added: 'Just as she left the house, I called to her through the window, 'What time are you coming home, tonight or tomorrow?'

'I said to myself, "Definitely tomorrow!" - but tomorrow will never come now.'

Police have appealed for witnesses to the accident. A spokesman for Merseyside Police said: 'Police have arrested a 24-year-old local man on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and drink driving.'